Contest that catapulted the most innovative startups to see $1.38 billion in investments, a dozen acquisitions in the past 5 years, is now accepting submissions for 2018 competition

BEDFORD, MA – January 8, 2018 – RSA Conference, the world’s leading information security conferences and expositions, today announces that the 13th annual RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest is now accepting submissions to name the “RSAC Most Innovative Startup 2018.” Past winners include successful companies such as Phantom, Waratek, Invincea and most recently UnifyID.

Since the first contest in 2009, RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox has established itself as a leading platform for entrepreneurial cyber security companies to launch their ground-breaking research and innovation. In the past five years alone, the contest’s top 10 finalists have collectively seen 12 acquisitions and have received $1.38 billion in investments.

“Startups are the ultimate drivers of innovation in the security industry. Their research and revolutionary products hold the promise for solving some of the world’s biggest security challenges. With that in mind, everyone from VCs to established security brands look to RSA Conference as a major advocate and supporter of startups through initiatives like ISB,” said Theresia Gouw, co-founder of Aspect Ventures and Program Committee Member for Innovation and Entrepreneur Seminar and RSAC Early Stage Expo. “I’m eager to see the ideas and energy coming from the companies at ISB this year and the impact they will have on the industry for decades to come.”

To further support emerging infosec startups, this year’s Conference will again host 45 companies with less than $5 million in revenue in the RSAC Early Stage Expo area. The RSAC Early Stage Expo is an innovation space dedicated to promoting up-and-comers in the industry. During the conference, entrepreneurs and interested attendees are also encouraged to attend an Innovation and Entrepreneur Seminar, where they’ll learn more about validating a good idea, finding funding and launching a company.

For the first time, the RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest will be working with leading business information destination, Crunchbase. This partnership supports the Conference’s goal to advance the information security industry forward by shining a light on groundbreaking security companies.

The RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest will begin at 1:30 PM PT on Monday, April 16 in the Marriott Marquis - Yerba Buena Ballroom, a new location from the 2017 event. Participants will pitch their security solutions in front of a live audience that has in the past included venture capital professionals, industry experts, senior level business practitioners and thought leaders. Five industry veterans will judge the competition and select a winner. The winner will be announced at 4:30 PM PT on April 16.

Companies are invited to submit an entry online no later than 8 PM PT on Friday, February 9. Terms and conditions for the RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest can be found here.

A summary of the criteria to compete in the event include:

The product has been in the market for less than one year (launched after January 2017)

The product matches an identified problem in the information security marketplace

The product takes an original and sound approach to solving a problem and has the potential to make a significant impact on information security

The product is validated through a client’s beta testing or purchase of product

The product can be demonstrated live and on-site during the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest

The company has a management team with a track record of successfully delivering products to market

The company is privately held, with less than $5M in revenue in 2017

After the submission period ends on Friday, February 9, 2018 at 8 PM PT:

Entries will be reviewed and ranked by a panel of judges that include venture capital professionals, CISOs and other outstanding industry experts in early March 2018

The top 10 ranked companies will be notified in mid-March 2018 and invited to demo their products and present their business plan to the judging panel and attendees live on Monday, April 16, 2018 at the RSAC Innovation Sandbox Contest

The top 10 finalists will be recognized on the RSA Conference website with company and product profiles, and will be promoted in other RSA Conference public relations efforts

More information regarding RSA Conference 2018, taking place at the Moscone Center and the Marriott Marquis in San Francisco from April 16-20, can be found at: www.rsaconference.com.

About RSA Conference RSA Conference is the premier series of global events where the world talks security and leadership gathers, advances and emerges. Whether attending in the U.S., the EMEA region, or the Asia-Pacific region, RSA Conference events are where the security industry converges to discuss current and future concerns and get access to the people, content and ideas that help enable individuals and companies to win, grow and do their best. It is the ultimate marketplace for the latest technologies and hands-on educational opportunities that help industry professionals discover how to make their companies more secure while showcasing the most enterprising, influential and thought-provoking thinkers and leaders in security today. For information on events, online programming and the most up-to-date news pertaining to the information security industry visit www.rsaconference.com.

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